Passenger attemps to break into cockpit on flight leaving from Melbourne0:33

Malaysia Airlines flight MH128 was forced to return to Melbourne after a passenger claimed to have a bomb May 31. He attempted to break into the cockpit but was quickly subdued by passengers.� Credit: Various via Storyful

June 1st 2017

10 months ago

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The suspect was tackled and tied up by passengers and crew after he allegedly tried to storm the cockpit. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

CHIEF Commissioner Graham Ashton has fiercely defended the time it took police to respond to the bomb threat on a Malaysia Airlines flight from Melbourne.

Mr Ashton said the Special Operations Group police did everything they could to evacuate the 337 passengers on MH128 safely, while ensuring there were no explosives on board.

The operation was initially treated as a counter-terror incident, he said.

“It’s not just a case of bursting into the plane; in those scenarios, there’s a whole range of things that have to be taken into consideration to keep passengers as safe as possible, especially in that sort of terrorism, as it was then,” Mr Ashton told 3AW.

“We know we had one person who had been restrained by passengers and crew, but what we don’t know is who potentially else may have been involved, are there other devices on the plane, is there any threat around detonation, or electronic detonation.

“These are the sort of risks you’ve then got to way up.”

Mr Ashton said the 90 minutes it took for police to board the plane was “not a long amount of time in dealing with that amount of risk.”

A dramatic audio recording captured the moment the pilot of the Malaysia Airlines flight called for help after a man claimed to have a bomb.

“We have a passenger trying to enter the cockpit,” the pilot tells air traffic control.

“He is claiming to have an explosive device.

“He tried to enter the cockpit.

“He has been overpowered by passengers, however, we’d like to land and have the device checked out.”

MH128 pilots distress call over bomb scare0:49

Listen to the audio as the pilot of MH128 contacts Melbourne air traffic control over passenger bomb scare. Source: LiveATC

June 1st 2017

10 months ago

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The plane landed back at Melbourne Airport without incident.

Sri Lankan national Manodh Monaragala Marks, 25, appeared before Magistrate Suzie Cameron charged with threatening to destroy, kill or injure anyone on an aircraft and recklessly threatening to detonate an explosive device.

Marks, who was charged by agents from the Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism unit, declined to be brought up from the cells to face the hearing.

The court heard Marks was suffering a mental illness and had recently been discharged from a psychiatric hospital.

A man arrested over the incident on MH128 is driven into Melbourne Magistrate’s Court today. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said he purchased his ticket after being released from the facility and then boarded the Airbus A330 holding a device.

Mr Ashton described the device as a “music speaker, about the size of a shoe”.

“He has attempted to enter the cockpit (and) at that time he was carrying a plastic bag,” Mr Ashton said.

“The plastic bag contained what appeared to be a speaker like device and a cord.

“The offender has moved away and was subdued by several passengers.

“At that point he was trussed up and the flight was returned to Melbourne.”

Mr Ashton yesterday told a parliamentary inquiry there were initial reports the accused man, may have had a second device on the plane.

He said “forward commanders” had to do a series of checks - including matching the passenger manifests against terrorism watchlists - before storming the plane.

He said it took police a while to “isolate the information” if there was a second device on the plane.

“I certainly appreciate when you are on a plane in that situation one minute can seem like an hour.

“But during the night, I was pretty much updated on a minute by minute basis, I’m satisfied with our response.

“It was a successful outcome.”

Man dragged off flight by police in Melbourne after threatening to 'blow up the plane'0:59

A man has been dragged off a Malaysia Airlines flight leaving Melbourne after trying to break into the cockpit and allegedly claiming he had a bomb on board. Courtesy: Selena Brown

June 1st 2017

10 months ago

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Passengers Stan and Pam Young, flying on to London, were angry they were not evacuated sooner.

“If there was a bomb on that plane we should have been communicated (to) ... instead, we sat there for another hour and a half.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in Parliament on Thursday that Australia’s transport security measures were “comprehensive and strong” but were being continually reviewed to ensure they remained effective and proportionate to the level of risk.

“We do everything we can to ensure that Australians fly safely and securely,” he said.

“Our transport security system is designed to keep Australians safe and prevent acts of unlawful interference.

The scene that confronted passengers soon after landing back in Melbourne. Picture: Andrew LeoncelliSource:Supplied

Police rush on-board. Picture: Andrew LeoncelliSource:Supplied

“It includes the screening of passengers and baggage, hardened cockpit doors, training cabin crew to respond to threats to security, it involves plain clothes in-flight security officers, and ensuring that unauthorised items are not placed on board aircraft.”

Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester said early information indicated the security screening measures were working ahead of the flight and on-board.

Mr Chester said there were no plans currently to introduce bans on a laptop or large electronic devices on planes similar to bans introduced in the United States and United Kingdom.

In a statement released yesterday morning, Malaysia Airlines said: “MH128, which had departed Melbourne Airport at 11.11pm and was scheduled to arrive Kuala Lumpur at 5.28am on 1 June, made a turn back to Melbourne after the operating Captain was alerted by a cabin crew member of a passenger attempting to enter the cockpit.

“Malaysia Airlines would like to stress that at no point was the aircraft ‘hijacked’.

“MH128 safely landed in Melbourne airport at 11.41pm.

“Following the incident on MH128, the disruptive passenger has been apprehended by airport security.

“Malaysia Airlines together with the Australian authorities will be investigating the incident.

“Safety and security are of utmost priority to Malaysia Airlines.

“The airline wishes to apologise for the inconvenience caused.

“Passengers have safely disembarked the aircraft and will be screened by Australian authorities.

“Affected passengers will be accommodated at hotels.

“They will be offered travel on the next available flight or on other carriers.”